Posted by madeline on November 5, 2006, at 11:10:50
I've always loved horses even as a little kid.
My mom was petrified of horses and wouldn't let me near them, but one time my dad snuck me out of the house and took me to a horse show. I couldn't have been more than 6.
While we were there, without even asking this rider just picked me up and we rode around and around this ring. My dad didn't even get mad. God bless him.
It was magical. I'll never forget it.
About a month ago I decided that I was going to learn to ride. I tried several stables, and finally found one that "fit".
Yesterday was my third lesson and I was on a lunge line (you let go of the reigns, take your feet out of the stirrups and let the instructor lead the horse in a circle).
It's designed to work on balance and help the student learn the proper "seat".
I've never experienced anything like it. I was sure I would fall off or something terrible would happen, but it didn't!
I just moved with the horse, it wasn't even a struggle. We were just synched. I've never felt so much freedom and joy.
In fact, I just started to laugh just out of the blue, just riding and laughing on the lunge line.
My instructor said I sounded like her two year old daughter.
When I left, I felt as though a tremendous burden had been lifted from me. I felt lighter, freer, happier than I think I have ever felt in my life.
I didn't have to control anything, just move and flow with it.
I think that is a valuable lesson for me. It's easier if you don't fight everything all the time. But just let go the reigns and ride with it. Move with the flow, instead of trying to change it.
If you talk to horse people, they always talk about learning more from the horses than from anything else in their lives.
I think they are right.
I can't wait for my next riding/life lesson.
poster:madeline
thread:700571
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20061026/msgs/700571.html